The CEO's Secret

4: The Planning Committee

April 2009

C H A P T E R F O U R:

T H E P L A N N I N G C O M M I T T E E

"Again?" Colin couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy when he looked at Katie, still blushing. Had they met before? He wondered, he certainly hoped not.

"Yes, we met downstairs in the lobby a while back." David smiled at Colin while Katie was trying to recollect her memories.

"Oh yeah. I remember now, I bumped into you." She laughed a little. "Apologies, again."

"You're a fine thing, I must say. You should come work for me as my PA. I'll pay you double what this chump is paying you." David said playfully.

"Thank you but I'm fine here." Was all Katie said, completely unaffected, before she went back to filing. Colin narrowed his eyes at his friend, the two men still standing at her office door.

"Are you guys heading out somewhere?" She decided to start another conversation with them as to not make it awkward, they seemed to be going nowhere yet.

"Yes, we're heading out for drinks." Colin answered.

"You're welcome to join if you want? We'd be happy to have you in our company." Katie found something charming about her boss's friend, but also something she found uneasy.

"Thank you for the offer but I have some work to do here and I think that would be a little inappropriate don't you think?" She raised an eyebrow at the two men.

"Well maybe it wouldn't be so inappropriate if Colin wasn't there, it can be arranged. I won't tell if you don't-"

"David? Man get out, I'll meet you downstairs in a minute."

"Whatever." The young man rolled his eyes before adding, "I'll be seeing you around Katie." He winked at her, making her blush again. Colin couldn't help but notice her pink cheeks and shy smile appearing on her face again, making him furrow his brows for a moment.

"I'm sorry about him." It was then that Katie looked up at him from the paperwork in the filing cabinet. He seemed a little irritated, she hoped it was not because of her.

"It's fine really."

"I guessed so." He mumbled angrily before turning around to leave, but not before she placed her hand on his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

"I'm sorry Colin, did I do something wrong?" She asked in slight bewilderment.

"No-"

"If I overstepped with your friend, it wasn't my intention."

"Forget it Katie, it doesn't matter." Colin said before turning around and heading for the elevator, angrier at himself than anyone else for being jealous over nothing.

He did not say much to his friend once he got into his car and they drove to a bar nearby. David noticed his irritation and eyed him with curiosity.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" David laughed at the sight sitting next to him in his car.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I can't ask someone out on a date now without you having a problem with it?"

"I wouldn't have a problem with it if you hadn't just met her minutes before and if she wasn't my PA."

"Whatever man, let's just get something to drink and talk about something else."

Katie thought about what just happened all the way home on her train. She hoped Emily was at the apartment when she got back so she could vent to someone about the tiring and confusing day she just had, also the one she was awaiting tomorrow when she met with the planning committee at work.

"Emily? Are you home?" she called once she turned the key in the lock and opened her front door.

"Yeah, I'm just in the kitchen." A wide grin appeared on Katie's face once she saw Emily placing two plates on the countertop. The smell of dinner filled her nose and she couldn't help but wonder what her friend had made.

"Did you make dinner?"

"No, it's breakfast." Emily said sarcastically.

"I'm glad you know how to cook because all I seem to do is burn everything." Emily noticed how Katie seemed a little deflated once she took a good look at her. She wondered if something was wrong.

"You're welcome. Now, let's sit in front of the TV and watch some good old Jerry Springer."

"Thanks for this Emily." Katie finally said once they were settled down on the sofa.

"Oh, don't worry about it. Hey, is everything alright? You seem a bit off." Usually when Katie returned she was lively and chirpy.

"Yeah, the weirdest thing happened when I was finishing work today though. I don't really understand."

"What happened?" Emily lowered down the TV. "Jerry can wait." She said.

"Well, Colin's friend, David, dropped by- the two of them were going out after work- and he was kind of flirting. I'm guessing he's just a flirty guy and he does it all the time but you should've seen Colin's face. He was definitely mad."

"Yes and then what?" Her friend was eating up everything she was saying instead of what was on the plate in front of her.

"Well he just stood there for a minute but then David suggested I join them for drinks and when I said it was inappropriate he said maybe if Colin wasn't there I would agree. But of course- I get it- he's obviously like this with everyone considering how fed up Colin was with him. I know his friend was only joking around but then Colin told him to leave and apologised for his behaviour."

"So who was Colin mad at? You or David? I don't understand."

"I'm not sure, I was hoping it was his friend. But then he left in a huff and I stopped him and asked what was wrong. All he said was 'forget it' and shrugged me off. I mean what's the problem?"

"Sounds strange to me. Maybe he was jealous huh?" Emily nudged her friend as she wiggled her eyes.

"Of course he was." Katie said sarcastically. "Even if he was, I didn't do anything. If I was as brave as Carrie I would march in there tomorrow morning and tell him he shouldn't speak to me in that tone ever again."

"Only Carrie would get away with that." Emily had learned a lot about Carrie over the past few weeks despite never meeting her.

"I know, maybe I should just leave him to it. I don't get paid to deal with his problems, I get paid to help Carrie- oh, that reminds me- and help plan this summer gala for the company." Katie buried her face in her hands for a moment.

"Oh come on Katie, it'll be alright. Once the first meeting is over and done with, you'll do great. It's just because you don't know anyone yet but every meeting will get better as times goes along."

"I wish I believed you. I know I have to do it, since it's now a part of my job but it's just meeting new people that throws me off sometimes. Especially since I'm going to have to work with them until June. I just don't want them to be horrible like my co-workers from my other job. I suppose- everyone I've met so far in the office seems lovely, hopefully the same goes for the planning committee."

If only she had been right.

*******

Katie was always early to work. Since she had started working for Colin, she had never been even a minute late although he was not so good at time keeping himself. She wanted to make a good impression and so that was why she arrived outside the meeting room for the planning committee almost five minutes early.

She was surprised when she looked around outside and found that no one was there. Maybe everyone hadn't arrived yet? She thought to herself. After waiting until ten on the button, Katie decided she should go inside the meeting room and wait there instead.

A dark shade of red crossed her heated cheeks when she discovered the room was already full of people, who were then looking at her in perplexity, as if they had never saw a late person before in their lives.

Katie's realisation that she was in fact late for a meeting she had arrived early to make her scrambled her words when she finally spoke.

"Hi, I'm so sorry I'm late. I've been waiting outside the past five minutes, I didn't think anyone was-"

"We usually all make an effort to ensure we arrive here at least fifteen minutes early, Ms... What is your name?" A tall woman who was standing next to a whiteboard in front of the others spoke with such impatience and displeasure that Katie felt the need to take a step back although they were both on different sides of the room. The woman's stare made her red cheeks only darken another shade or two.

"Katie Briggs. You must be Catherine, it's nice to meet you." Katie tried her best to not let how intimidated she was show in her exterior to the room full of people.

"Oh, Katie! Mr. Anderson has told me you'll be helping us out here in the weeks coming up to the Summer Gala." She was surprised when Catherine's facial expression and voice warmed a little, but once the woman spoke again- Katie found herself wondering why she had thought the woman was going to be nice. "Go get us coffee." Catherine demanded.

"Um, excuse me?" she quirked an eyebrow in bewilderment.

"Coffee? Take everyone's orders and go get them as soon as possible. We've been waiting for you the past fifteen minutes."

"But how am I supposed to carry everybody's coffee back here?"

"Alice, you go with her." The older woman used the very same tone she had used with Katie on Alice. But Alice did no questioning like Katie, instead she submissively mumbled something and nodded before walking towards her.

It took only a minute or two to write down everyone's orders, all fifteen of them.

"Don't be long!" They heard Catherine say as they were leaving.

Alice seemed like a quiet girl, she could only have been a year or two younger than Katie and she said almost nothing on the way to the coffee shop. Katie was too busy running through the events that had just happened.

"So, is Catherine always that mean?" she finally asked Alice once they had ordered and paid for their coffee. The girl tried to stifle a giggle.

"Wow, don't let her hear you say anything like that in front of her. She'll come down on you like a tonne of bricks." Alice blurted out although she felt bad afterwards. What if this girl told Catherine what she had said?

"I'm guessing that's a yes then."

"She can be very- demanding. But you'll get used to her."

"Great." Katie rolled her eyes before the two of them struggled to hold all of their order. "I'll get the first door." Katie mumbled and held the door open for Alice.

"Thanks."

"So is being a part of the planning committee any good? Or am I going to have to go through hell for the next two months?"

"I wouldn't know. All I do is take notes and get the coffee. I'm just glad someone's hear to help me because usually I have to take two trips carrying all this coffee back to work."

"Oh that sounds terrible." Katie replied with sympathy. Alice wasn't sure why she was saying this to Katie but decided that she would whether it was a good or bad decision.

"It is." She nodded at Katie. "So are you new?"

"Yes, since a few weeks ago. I work with Colin and Carrie upstairs." Katie answered as the pair entered the lobby of their building.

"Colin?"

"Yes, you know, Jeffrey's son."

"No one calls him Colin on my floor."

"Oh." Katie furrowed her brows for a moment before Alice asked her another question.

"How are you finding it?"

"It's been great actually. How long have you been working here?"

"Oh, I'm just an intern here. I don't get paid or anything but I've been working on and off since last summer. Usually I'm with the accountants but I've been thrown into the planning committees meetings for the past while to help out with the finance planning even though Catherine reminds me time and time again she does not need an accountant's help. She's been planning these galas for years apparently, and there's never been a mistake made. So I guess that's why I'm told to do these coffee runs and put up with sitting there completely uninvolved in their conversations."

"So you're studying in College?"

"Yes I'm only a sophomore but I'm just about done this year of college which means I'm going to be working here over the summer."

They got to know each other a little more on the elevator ride up to the meeting room and were not surprised to find that Catherine's awful mood had not changed since they had left.

Katie discovered it was not just Catherine who would be nasty throughout the entire meeting, but most of the people in the meeting room too. She was told to sit there and listen, her input was not needed.

The meeting felt never ending but Katie managed to get through it all. She talked a little with Alice until the elevator reached her floor. Alice said her goodbyes but not before reminding the other girl to turn up at least fifteen minutes early to the next meeting. She used a high-pitched voice mimicking Catherine that made Katie laugh when she said it.

Carrie noticed how unenthusiastic she was when the older woman asked how the meeting had went but it did take some time to finally get Katie's truthful opinion.

"And then Alice told me that she usually has to take two trips to the coffee shop because no one else is there to help her."

"Oh dear, that doesn't sound like what you're signed up for."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be complaining already about work. I'm so grateful for the job that even if I have to go through those meetings, I know it's worth it."

"No Katie, you don't need to worry. I completely understand. I know Catherine a while now and she seems like quite the... hmm I'm not sure what word to use for her but anyway, don't feel like you can't say anything to me about work unless it's something good."

"Thanks Carrie." Katie beamed at her, delighted that she was back to her office, working alongside someone that she actually liked.

"Hey, would you mind getting Colin to sign these for me?"

"Sure, no problem."

"Thank you sweetie."

"Good afternoon Colin." Katie said, only allowing a certain amount of warmth come out in her voice. She remembered how he had spoken yesterday before he left. Colin was sitting at his desk, texting on his cell phone when he looked up to see the beautiful sight before him that was his assistant. He then reminded himself that Katie was his assistant and he needed to snap out of it.

"You look different today." He furrowed his brows at her.

"Glad to see you're getting a lot of work done, as usual." Katie mumbled as she looked through the papers she had in her hand.

"You know me too well." Colin smirked, his tone was light and playful- clearly he had forgotten about yesterday, but not for long.

"Can you sign these please?"

"Of course, anything for you Katie- that's it." He clicked his fingers as she laid the papers on the table for him, pointing at where to sign. "It's your glasses. Are they new?"

"Oh god no. I have these things years. I just didn't have time to put my contacts in today." He had managed to break her cool exterior in a matter of seconds.

"They suit you." Colin said as he signed his name then handed the papers over.

"Thank you Sir." Katie said politely before turning to go but he stopped her.

"Apologies for David yesterday."

"I don't think David is the only one you need to apologise for?" she said daringly, raising an eyebrow at him. Katie knew she may have been crossing the line but decided to just go for it anyway. Colin had already shown he was not your typical boss, his father was the one in charge and judging from Colin's behaviour, it would stay like that for a very long time. He sighed deeply before knitting his fingers together in front of him on the table.

"Sit down for a moment will you Katie? I promise I won't be long."

"Sure."

"Look... I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have been so angry with you over nothing. I was just frustrated with David, he never stops."

"I get it." Katie nodded at him, accepting his apology easily.

"Would you have went?"

"What?" she was confused then.

"With David, if I wasn't there of course."

"Like a date?"

"Well yes, he seemed to think that would be a good idea."

"Oh no, I'm not looking for a relationship right now." Her words were probably a little too personal to share with her boss, but she did so anyway. They only made Colin feel a cocktail of relief and disappointment although he knew both were not justified.

"Why not?" Katie looked up then and noticed how big and bright his eyes were. They stood out amongst his dark hair and tanned skin, a sight one must see in person. She was too zoned in on Colin's eyes to realise she had yet to reply. The silence stretched longer then, making him feel the need to talk again. "Forget I asked that please, I shouldn't have."

"Don't worry about it." Katie laughed lightly, pushed up her glasses on her nose and before they both knew it the conversation had stirred in a different direction completely.

It wasn't until a half an hour had passed and Carrie knocked on Collin's door looking for Katie that they realised how long they were sitting there chatting.

"Katie we're about to head out for lunch now, do you want to come with or are you busy?" Carries eyes wandered between the two of them knowingly. She had heard their laughter from her office and wondered what the two were talking about.

"Sure, let me just grab my things Carrie." Katie smiled and got up from her chair.

"Great, we'll meet you outside." The older woman said before leaving Colin's office.

Colin wished she didn't have to go yet despite knowing they had talked for so long already. Katie turned around then before leaving and laughed a little.

"Every time you call me in here I feel like we end up talking for a lifetime. You're such a bad influence Mr. Anderson." She said jokingly, almost flirtatiously if you asked Colin.

"We were actually just about to leave for lunch right now Carrie. I hope you don't mind if I steal her from you for a bit." Katie's head shot back to look at Colin after he spoke. Carrie could not see Katie narrowing her eyes at him.

"What's another hour going to do huh?" Carrie said playfully. She hadn't seen Colin smiling the way he was when she came into his office in months. "Have a good time you two." She grinned before closing the door behind her.

"Lunch?" Katie raised an eyebrow at Colin from across the desk.

"Yes, I thought I mentioned it earlier no?"

"No. You didn't." Katie crossed her arms. "And I think you just said it in front of Carrie right then because you knew I would say no if you had've asked me earlier."

"C'mon Katie. It's just lunch."

"Fine. I guess I'll have to put up with you for an hour straight..." she rolled her eyes and made him chuckle.